Chocolate buffetThe day of the chocolate buffet was our last day at sea before our final dock in Venice. Even at this point my biological clock still hadn't converted to European time, so I was like a narcoleptic everywhere I went, mobile or not.
At about 10:50 PM we got in line, which was huge, of course (too many people in this world love chocolate). It took us about half an hour to get past Captain Lars's crew at the door, and once we were in, we were in a chocolate wonderland: chocolate fountains; chocolate cakes, cookies and brownies; chocolate fudge; chocolate-covered fruit...
Two words: "hubba hubba."
Mike grabbed us a couple of plates and went at it, piling his with chocolate goodness. I started going for the See's Candies-lookin' treats, but something odd happened: I felt nauseated by the smell.How could this be?! I know no one more in love with chocolate than I, but the scent actually turned me off from the beautiful brownness. And there's Mike, creating a brown pile next to me. It made no sense, and I was sad. I left with a lame plate of four little treats. I devoured only one.
Venice
My, what an enchanting city. In addition to Paris, I was really taken by Venice. It was clean, beautiful, and best of all, didn't have any trains.
Mike and I decided to go to the famous St. Mark's Square. After getting off the ship we found a line for "water bus" tickets. Just as expected, the line took forever because of the wireless receipt machine--not only did it take a while to print receipts, it also pooped out when it was our turn. I guess printing paper is a strenuous task...
Following this, Mike and I got in line for what looked like a water bus, next to a sign that said "Water Bus." We waited for about half an hour, only to be told at the front that it was the wrong line. We were directed to another line."I got it! Italy is just like Disneyland: there are a lot of lines and everything is overpriced!" Mike said.
So we waited in this third line--which, thankfully, was the correct line--and hopped on the water bus. I got slightly sea sick (which was great, since I love getting sea sick) and then we docked by St. Mark's. And just as the pictures show, there were a lot of pigeons. So many pigeons...
We walked around and took in the gorgeous scenery. We had lunch by the Square, found the building out of which James Bond jumped in Casino Royale, checked out a church, found a free bathroom inside a hotel that I noted for future trips, went on a gondola ride (of course!), and took pictures next to a statue of a naked boy holding a frog. Mike also purchased a striped sweat shirt for his mother.On the way out, I told Mike I wanted a picture of myself feeding the pigeons. If I were to get the bird flu, what better way to contract it while feeding pigeons in St. Mark's Square? So, we made it happen.
Afterward, on the way back to the water bus, Mike and I talked about the great day we had. Then, next thing I knew, a rose was shoved into my face from my left side.
A dark-skinned man said, "Have! Have!"
"Thank you?" I replied. I took the rose and continued.
"No, no, one euro," he said. So Mike gave him a euro and the man shoved another one in my face.
"Another euro," he said,
"No, thank you," we told him.
"Please?"
"No, we don't want this." I returned a rose.
The man looked at Mike, who gave him a "Well, tough!" shrug, and then walked away looking, well, pissed.
"Well, you're welcome," I said under my breath.
